Strabismus (Crossed Eyes)
Strabismus is a disease in which the eyes are not aligned properly. One eye may look straight
ahead, while the other eye turns inward (called esotropia), outward (exotropia), up
(hypertropia), or down (hypotropia). The eye turn may be consistent, or it may come and go
(intermittent).
Six eye muscles control eye movement. With normal vision, both eyes aim at the same spot. The
brain then combines the two pictures into a single, three-dimensional image. This threedimensional image gives us depth perception.
When one eye is out of alignment, two different pictures are sent to the brain causing double
vision (diplopia). In a young child, the brain learns to ignore the image of the misaligned eye and
sees only the image from the straight or better-seeing eye. The child then loses depth
perception and develops a lazy eye (Amblyopia). These problems can become permanent if
they're not treated.
Treatment of strabismus works to straighten the eyes and restore binocular (two-eyed) vision. In
some cases of strabismus, eyeglasses can be prescribed for your child to straighten the eyes.
Other forms of treatment may involve surgery to correct the unbalanced eye muscles.
If you or your pediatrician suspects that your child has strabismus, see your eye doctor early on.
Your child may have false strabismus, a condition in which the eye muscles are working
normally, or his/her eyes may not be aligned properly, needing early diagnosis and treatment.
